walnut

[timusp40]

Not around here! I've bought 12/4 and 16/4 walnut from local mills on a few occasions. It never broke the bank. Walnut is very plentiful in eastern PA. My yard is 80% walnut trees.

A local tree guy tells me he used to get over $200 at the mill for a large walnut tree, but now they turn most loads into firewood. There's just not enough demand right now.

Joful,
I hate to rain on anyone's parade, but it is the same story here. The tree service guys in my area cut walnut every week and never does it go anyplace except into their huge cippers or for firewood. They tell me that the mills won't even talk to them unless they are cutting a large lot of good straight mature trees that are not likely to have metal in them. And as for the fancy walnut that is in demand, not enough of it to make it worth their while, but that will not make me feel guilty when it keeps my home warm!
Take care,
Tim

 

[rideau]

This is absolutely unbelievable! What I wouldn't have given to be able to included walnut in my home when I built in the 70s. I had white oak wide trim and wide board floors milled for the first floor and all halls and stairs, cherry for the bedrooms (wide board floors and trim) on the second floor and in the large bedroom overlooking the lake on the third floor, sugar maple in the other rooms on the third floor, and teak floors and trim in all the bathrooms. There was no way I could get walnut...I think it was harder to get than koa then....Actually, of the four woods I got, the difficulty of getting clear sugar maple was what held the order up. I love walnut. I'm going to have to see if I can get some now and do something with it...maybe stack some in the basement and save it for when I can build a library extension....

I've never seen a walnut growing. I was given some nuts this past fall, but didn't get them planted yet. Don't know if it is too late? Or how deep to plant them? Or how far apart? Any advice? I do know they kill everything growing around them....

 

[Ashful]

This is absolutely unbelievable! What I wouldn't have given to be able to included walnut in my home when I built in the 70s...
I've never seen a walnut growing. I was given some nuts this past fall, but didn't get them planted yet. Don't know if it is too late? Or how deep to plant them? Or how far apart? Any advice? I do know they kill everything growing around them....

It's amusing how much things like this vary from one locale to another. The entire first floor of the house I grew up in was floored in walnut. I have so many walnut trees growing in my yard, they seem to just grow by accident!

As to them killing everything around them, that is an overstatement. True, there are some plants that do not do well under a walnut tree, but I have had very few problems of the sort. A reason for that may be that I do try to collect the nuts from the ground before they rot, which is a major PiTA! The husk of walnuts makes the most wonderful indelible stain you have ever seen, so don't go planting one right outside your back door, if you care about your carpets.

They are beautiful trees, though. A real pleasure to look at, if not to clean up after. I just bought a walnut harvester this year, as I now have far too many to rake up. At the old house, I used to collect more than 100 gallons of walnuts from a single mature tree.

 

[timusp40]

It's amusing how much things like this vary from one locale to another. The entire first floor of the house I grew up in was floored in walnut. I have so many walnut trees growing in my yard, they seem to just grow by accident!

As to them killing everything around them, that is an overstatement. True, there are some plants that do not do well under a walnut tree, but I have had very few problems of the sort. A reason for that may be that I do try to collect the nuts from the ground before they rot, which is a major PiTA! The husk of walnuts makes the most wonderful indelible stain you have ever seen, so don't go planting one right outside your back door, if you care about your carpets.

They are beautiful trees, though. A real pleasure to look at, if not to clean up after. I just bought a walnut harvester this year, as I now have far too many to rake up. At the old house, I used to collect more than 100 gallons of walnuts from a single mature tree.

Walnut stain? Oh yeah, it leaves it's mark for sure. Stains your skin, your clothes, driveway whatever, but indeed are beautiful trees. The nuts are a PIA to crack and get the meat out, but worth it if you have the time and patience.
Take care,
Tim

 

[Thistle]

3 good sized ones in backyard here,very good crop this year,a few on tree still & over a bushel on the ground.Leaving them for squirrels & chipmunks (they've been busy past few weeks) because I still have 2 1/2 bushel from last year that were hulled,washed,dried & still in the shell in buckets in the shed.Use an old hand cranked corn sheller to remove the husks.Best thing I've ever used.Have a couple large plastic mortar tubs to wash & agitate the nuts,using mortar hoe.Spread out on 1/2" wire mesh frame to spray the nuts & remove all the crumbs,they dry in a few hours.Have to stay with them & not take a break to go eat cause the squirrels will start carrying them off...

 

[rideau]

Can someone please tell me how deep to plant the nuts? And how far apart? Do I need to protect them from squirrels once planted? (Will they dig them up?) What is the viability rate? Should I plant more than one nut per hole? Mine have the outer hull off....is it too late to plant them this year? Will they compete well, or do they need an open space that is kept open as they grow? Any other helpful info?? I'd like to plant some along some of the property lines for my grandchildren....By the way, I was told by a woodworker that he always gets his walnut from PA because our growing season is enough shorter to not produce as nice walnut as PA's season...don't know if others agree.

 

[Ashful]

Use an old hand cranked corn sheller to remove the husks.

You learn stuff here... not just about firewood! Thanks, Thistle.

Sorry, I'm no help on (intentionally) planting walnuts, rideau. My experience is that they grow anywhere and everywhere a nut is ever dropped on the ground. I pull quite a few of them as weeds every spring. I suspect Google is your best friend for a planting guide.

I did watch one which sprouted by accident grow to a height of ~25 feet and produce a nice small crop of walnuts inside of 15 years.

 

[etiger2007]

I have 30 walnut trees in my side yard alone most of them in the side yard woods, but the ones in the yard are a pain in the a$$. You can hear baseballs falling to the ground as you sit on the patio with your favorite adult beverage. Im not sure about plants not growing near a walnut tree, I have a huge walnut that the previous owners built a flower bed around and all the plants in that flower box flourish every year.